Board approves amendments to administrators’ contracts; one classified resignation approved on one reading

The Lakewood City Schools Board of Education approved amendments to the employment contracts of the superintendent, assistant superintendent, assistant treasurer, director of operations and treasurer, and approved a classified resignation on one reading.

Board members discussed the amendments as annual adjustments that align the five administrative salaries with negotiated cost-of-living increases in the district’s union agreements.

Board member Clark Sutton described the administrators’ multiyear contracts and said the amendments ‘‘enable the board to adjust these particular compensations to be in line with the cost of living increases that have been negotiated into the contracts with all 3 of our unions.’’ She said the adjustments ‘‘have no impact on the number of teachers that we employ, or class sizes, but these increases do serve as a morale boost.’’ A 2.75% increase was cited in discussion as the negotiated figure that the amendments are intended to reflect.

The board voted to approve a classified resignation on a single reading. Treasurer Kent Zeman called the roll for that vote; the transcript records unanimous recorded votes of aye by President Katzenberger, Vice President Shaughnessy, Clark Sutton, Callahan and Dottman. The contract amendments passed on the second reading by voice vote; the board chair asked, “All in favor?” and members responded “Aye.”

Board members emphasized that the amendments are administrative compensation adjustments and not budget or staffing policy changes. The transcript shows no subsequent motion to change staffing levels as a result of the contract amendments.

The amendments were discussed during the meeting’s business agenda and were presented as the second reading of the resolution; the classified resignation was presented on a single-reading motion to enable the position to be posted.